Wrexham

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Wrexham boss Jenny Sugarman remains "incredibly proud" of their achievements after getting knocked out of Women's Champions League qualifying.

The Red Dragons suffered a 4-1 home defeat by Riga FC in the first round qualification final on Saturday evening, having taken the lead early on.

Lili Jones' volley was cancelled out as the Latvian champions scored four second-half goals to reach the second round of qualifying at Wrexham's expense.

Still, Sugarman, who guided Wrexham to their maiden league title in 2025-26, remains proud after leading the club to the first European win by a Welsh side since 2019.

"I thought for the first 45 [minutes] we were excellent. We came out with intent and a game plan to really nullify some of their threats," she said.

"Their number 11 [Miyu Takahira], in the second half, was outstanding, and really turned the screw on us. For 60 minutes we kept her incredibly quiet.

"We've been beaten by a better side with some top quality individual players. I'm massively disappointed; we wanted this journey to go on.

"Getting here was never quite the plan in the first season. We can be incredibly proud of what we've put out across those two games."

Wrexham beat Armenian champions FC Pyunik 4-2 in their Women's Champions League debut at the Racecourse.

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson hailed a "great week" in Tampa as his side secured another pre-season win over Premier League opposition by beating Leeds 3-2.

After the win over Manchester United last week, the Welsh side continued their summer form as Sam Smith's late winner proved enough against a team featuring a host of Wales internationals.

The Welsh side led after just 31 seconds as Kieffer Moore fired a low shot home. Former Swansea striker Joel Piroe then missed the chance to level as he put a penalty against the post - before making amends by flicking in from close range.

Bailey Cadamarteri restored the Wrexham lead with a clipped finish, but the teams still went in level at the break after Sean Longstaff hammered high into the net through a crowded penalty area.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke handed Harry Wilson his club debut in the second-half and the Welsh winger duly impressed, but with the game meandering towards a draw it was Smith who settled matters in the 86th minute. The forward evaded Joe Rodon before finishing clinically past sub-keeper Lucas Perri.

"It's been a great week; it really has," said Parkinson afterwards. "We've been looked after so well in Tampa.

"The lads will be pleased. Although it's only pre-season, to beat a Premier League team is a feather in our cap and we'll take it.

"It was a really good workout in very humid conditions. You have to be here to understand how tough it was, but I thought the lads acquitted themselves really well."

Parkinson's side will now turn their focus to their next enticing challenge, a clash with Liverpool at the Yankee Stadium in New York on Wednesday night.

Wrexham head coach Jenny Sugarman speaks on Wrexham's crowd for their Women's Champions League fixture against FC Pyunik

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Head coach Jenny Sugarman says there has been little time to savour Wrexham's historic Women's Champions League debut.

Wrexham celebrated their first European appearance with a thrilling 4-2 victory against FC Pyunik in the first qualifying round semi-final at the Racecourse.

The Adran Premier champions face Riga of Latvia in Saturday's first qualifying round final, also at the Racecourse

Sugarman said: "In football you often don't get much time to enjoy your moment do you?

"Because what comes, and the difference I guess here with our normal league season, is the turnaround time now of the next game.

"We definitely enjoyed the evening, definitely enjoyed the emotion of the evening with the crowd and everything there.

"But full focus moved to game two pretty quickly for the staff in particular.

"It's a full staff team effort and we do pride ourselves on no stone left unturned.

"We had already profiled Riga as an opposition, but they presented a little differently on Wednesday afternoon when we watched them live, which was also really helpful seeing that live."

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says every game on the club's pre-season tour of the US will have its own significance as his side prepare to face Premier League opposition.

Parkinson's men face Leeds United in Tampa on Sunday, 26 July before facing Liverpool at the iconic Yankee Stadium in New York four days later.

Their final pre-season game is against Parkinson's former club Sunderland on Sunday, 2 August in Philadelphia, hometown of Wrexham co-owner Rob Mac.

Wrexham have never met Leeds United in a competitive game, with the clubs meeting only twice in pre-season matches in 1964.

"I think they've all got a special feel to it really," Parkinson said.

"It's quite amazing, really, when you think we've never met Leeds United in a competitive game. It's a brilliant club.

"Obviously going to New York to play Liverpool, an iconic stage and it's going to be something special.

"Then going to Philadelphia, a stadium we've been to before and a really good arena for football and playing against Sunderland.

"Obviously, me and Steve [Parkin] were there for a short period, but that's kind of irrelevant really.

"It's going to Rob's hometown and putting on a show for him and his family as well."

Manager Phil Parkinson looks ahead to Wrexham's pre-season tour to the United States.

Wrexham are set for a triple header of friendlies in the USA against Leeds United (Sunday, 26 July), Liverpool (Thursday, 30 July) and Sunderland (Sunday, 2 August).

Harry Souttar is a potential transfer target for West Ham United following Leicester City's relegation to League One. The Hammers' Championship rivals Wrexham, Sheffield United and the 27-year-old defender's former club Stoke City are also interested in the Australian international. (Daily Record), external

West Ham are also interested in taking 19-year-old Arsenal defender Jaden Dixon on loan. Dixon joined Arsenal from Stoke in March having started his career at the Gunners' north London rivals, Tottenham. (Pete O'Rourke), external

You can find more of Monday's EFL gossip here.

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Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Elliot Lee and Ryan Hardie missed Wrexham's 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Manchester United due to injury.

Lee, 31, and Hardie, 29, were not part of the squad that travelled to Helsinki, Finland but were named in the group that went to Poland last week.

Attacking midfielder Lee, who has been at Wrexham since 2022, played the second half of a 0-0 draw against Wilsa Krakow. Hardie did not feature.

Parkinson hopes the duo have not suffered serious injuries and is optimistic about welcoming other unavailable players back to the squad before friendlies in the USA.

"It's like the building blocks for us going into the American tour now," he told Wrexham's website after their victory over Premier League Man United.

"We can bring a few players [back] now - Libby [Liberto Cacace], Sheafy [Ben Sheaf] and Josh Windass.

"Ryan Hardie and Elliot [Lee] have unfortunately picked up injuries which are hopefully not too serious.

"We have got other players to come back into that group but I feel the lads are progressing well. That's a good base to go to America with."

Full-back Cacace has returned to Wrexham training after representing New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup.

Wrexham are set for a triple header of friendlies in the USA against Leeds United (Sunday, 26 July), Liverpool (Thursday, 30 July) and Sunderland (Sunday, 2 August).

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Wrexham maintained their impressive start to pre-season with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

A week on from their 0-0 draw with Polish side Wisla Krakow, Sam Smith netted the only goal of the contest as Phil Parkinson's men defeated Michael Carrick's Premier League side in Helsinki, Finland.

The former Red Devils academy product tapped Lewis O'Brien's cross into the net in the opening half in what was an encouraging showing from the Championship side.

Wrexham return to action with a triple header against Leeds United, Liverpool and Sunderland in the USA.

They start their competitive campaign at Middlesbrough in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Friday, 7 August before getting their Championship season under way at Cardiff City on Monday, 17 August.